Benjamin Riley, founder of Cognitive Resonance, and Alex Kotran, CEO of The AI Education Project, dive into a lively debate on teaching AI literacy in K-12 education. They explore the pros and cons of AI’s role in classrooms, stressing the importance of critical thinking and the risks of over-reliance on technology. Their discussion also touches on AI ethics and the need to prepare students for a future where AI is ubiquitous. Their varying views highlight the complexities of integrating AI into education while ensuring ethical considerations are front and center.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
AI Use Fades After Initial Excitement
An English teacher saw initial excitement using chatbots in class dwindle.
Students learned prompt skills but lost the struggle of organizing thoughts on their own.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Cautious AI Adoption Advice
Avoid rushing AI adoption in schools without understanding long-term impacts.
Use caution and critical thinking when integrating AI technology for students.
insights INSIGHT
Start AI Literacy with Adults
AI literacy must start with adults before reaching students.
Understanding basic AI mechanisms is essential for critical evaluation.
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This episode was recorded live on stage at EDTECH WEEK in New York City. Like most edtech conferences, there were many conversations about the potential power that AI could play in student learning. Ours was a different kind of conversation. We brought together two experts who both expressed skepticism about the role AI should be playing in education today. While they agreed on many things, there is a highly productive disagreement around whether or not we should be actively teaching AI literacy (or “readiness”) to students in grades K-12.
Alex Kotran is the CEO of The AI Education Project (AI Edu), a non-profit devoted to making sure that all students are ready to live, work, and thrive in a world where AI is everywhere. Previously, he was the Director of AI Ethics at H5, a pioneering AI company in the legal services sector.
Benjamin Riley is the founder of Cognitive Resonance, a new venture dedicated to improving understanding of human cognition and generative AI. Previously, he founded and served as CEO of Deans for Impact, a nonprofit education organization working to improve teacher training through the use of cognitive science.
This episode is moderated by The Disagreement’s cohost and cofounder Catherine Cushenberry.
Questions or comments about this episode? Email us at podcast@thedisagreement.com or find us on X and Instagram @thedisagreementhq. Subscribe to our newsletter: https://thedisagreement.substack.com/
Want to listen to more live conversations from EDTECH WEEK 2024? Watch more here.
Questions or comments about this episode? Email us at podcast@thedisagreement.com or find us on X and Instagram @thedisagreementhq. Subscribe to our newsletter: https://thedisagreement.substack.com/
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